President Asif Ali Zardari has congratulated Ambassador Sohail Mahmood on his appointment as Secretary General of the Developing Eight organization, D-8.

Talking to the Ambassador in Islamabad today, the President termed the appointment a pride for Pakistan that a seasoned Pakistani diplomat will be leading the organization.

The Ambassador briefed the President on his new role and shared his vision for advancing cooperation among D-8 member states.

He highlighted the organization’s potential to promote economic growth and collective development across its diverse membership.

The President underscored Pakistan's continued commitment to D-8 as a founding member and noted the importance of effective implementation of the D-8 Decennial Roadmap 2020-30.

He emphasized translating agreed frameworks into tangible outcomes, particularly in priority areas like trade, agriculture, energy, industry, transportation and tourism.

Referring to the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement, the President said highlighted the urgency of full operationalization of the agreement.

He welcomed the signing of the Protocol on the D-8 PTA Dispute Settlement Mechanism as a positive step towards addressing trade barriers and strengthening economic collaboration among member states.

The President also stressed the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts within D-8 to deepen cultural and historical ties.

He noted that institutional reforms are essential for the organisation's long-term effectiveness.

He expressed hope that Ambassador Sohail Mahmood will play a constructive role in aligning D-8 with contemporary global standards while ensuring fair representation of member states and safeguarding Pakistan's national interests.